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NavSource Online:Submarine Chaser Photo Archive

PC-1264

Call sign:Nan - Fox - Love - George

PC-461 Class Submarine Chaser:

Laid down 7 October 1943 by Consolidated Shipbuilding Corp., Morris Heights, New York

Launched, 28 November 1943

Commissioned 25 April 1944 at Pier 42, New York City. One of two World War II Navy ships to be manned by a largely African-American enlisted complement

Decommissioned 7 February 1946 at Tompkinsville, Staten Island, NY

Struck from the Naval Register 28 March 1946

Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 24 March 1948 and sold for scrap

Lt. Eric Purdon (at microphone) the ship's first commanding officer, reads the official orders directing him to assume command of PC-1264, on 25 April 1944Navy Heritage and History Command photo NH 92461

Robert Hurst

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25 April 1944Commissioning ceremonies at North River Pier, New York CityU.S. Navy photo NH 1151766Photographed by International News Photos

Naval Historical Center

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Ship's enlisted complement on the fantail, at the time of her
commissioning ceremonies, 25 April 1944, at New York City.Naval Historical Center photo NH 92463Subchaser manned by negroes is commissioned at New York, April 25, 1944.
Crew members of the USS PC-1264 get together on the fantail after the commissioning ceremony. The ship's company includes 53 Negroes.
U.S. Navy photo (2383-6) courtesy Public Relations Office, Third Naval District, 90 Church Street, New York.Photo from the collection of Jack W. Sutherland

Original photo: Fred WeissReplacement photo: Laura Sutherland

381k

25 April 1944Commissioning ceremony

Ed Zajkowski

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A posed photograph of the bridge watch, taken at the time of her commissioning, at New York City, 25 April 1944Navy History and Heritage Command photo NH 92464

Robert Hurst

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Signalmen at work with a "blinker" lamp, at the time of her commissioning, at New York City, 25 April 1944Navy History and Heritage Command photo NH 92465

208k

The crew of the U.S. Navy submarine chaser [PC 1264] salutes the United States flag as the 173-foot long escort vessel is commissioned in a U.S. East Coast port. As soon as they qualify through experience and training, eight members of the crew of 53 Negro sailors will replace the present chief petty officers. May 1, 1944.National Archives photo 208-N-26553.

Bill Gonyo

791k

Depth charge exploding astern, as the crew of the USS PC-1264 practices a simulated submarine attack during the ship's shakedown cruise off southern FloridaU.S. Navy photo from "Black Company" by Eric Purdon

Robert Hurst

63k

Naval Institute Press photo 94031

Bob Daly/PC-1181

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Photo from the collection of Jack W. Sutherland

Laura Sutherland

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The officers, crew and mascot of PC-1264. Photo taken sometime after 2 May 1945 as Ensign Gravely reported aboard on that date and, in the photograph, he is seated to the left of the other officers. All the white Petty Officers were transferred off the ship in November 1944. The canine mascot, seated front center, was named "Gizmo" after a vote by the crewU.S. Navy photo from book "Black Company: The Story of Subchaser 1264" by Eric S. Purdon

Robert Hurst

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Decommissioning of PC-1264 at Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York on 7 February 1946. The officers are (left to right) Ensigns H.E. Kohler, D.G. Maxwell, William L. Fanning, Jr., Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. (retired in 1980 with the rank of Vice Admiral), and Lieut.(jg) Jack SutherlandU.S. Navy photo from book "Black Company: The Story of Subchaser 1264" by Eric S. Purdon